How to approach neighbors to get storm water easement

Hi
I have a development in Hornsby area.
The land is sloped towards the back.
According to survey, 2 metres fall in 60 metres depth.
Council only allows natural gravity for storm water.
That is, pump and charged system are out.
I need to approach the back neighbor to get easement along his side fence.
What is the "standard" procedure to start this?
Leaving a postal mail?
Any tips to make neighbor more willing to accept your proposal?
Thanks in advance.

I had a similar issue in Parramatta and guess who was my neighbour? Council...(yes I want to cry here).

I would think of a plan before you approach the neighvour. Personally, I would knock on their door and have a very friendly chat to them to suss them out. Stay calm, even tempered and don't lose your cool no matter what they say. Explain your situation in a very gentle manner, slightly worried. You want to try to evoke their sympathy. Don't pressure them. Just suss them out and then give them some time to respond if they need it. Let them know that you will leave everything the way it was from before (if you can fix their fence or throw in something for free then highlight that fact). Also have a dollar figure in mind because they may ask you how much your willing to compensate them. If your real figure is 15k, start at 5k or something low. Good luck.

@htopg Yes you didn't say in your OP that your just going to put a single house on the lot, so it sounded like a Duplex development. In my case as @Be Developer said, I was going from 1 into 2 so increasing the density and it was sloping away from the street, so I needed an easement. That would also explain why in your case council are more interested in roof drainage.

Your engineers might be able to come up with a solution to avoid the easement. other then that paying them off as suggested earlier by Leo is probably the best option.

Click to expand...

The hydraulic engineer came up with "charged tank system".
After the hydraulic engineer talked to Hornsby council town planners, Hornsby council town planners insisted to have a solution that only replies on gravity (the storm water easement!!).
Now hydraulic engineer is waiting for me to talk to neighbour to get the storm water easement so that he can finish his job and change me $$$.

Do they want an "easement" or a pipe going through the neighbour's?@Leo2413 you went the formal easement with the big price tag, can you may run a pipe through with neighbour's permission (and exchange of $$)

: Section 1(2) of the Law of Property Act 1925 states that easements are an interest capable of being legal, with S52 of the 1925 Act stating that all conveyances will be void unless created by deed. Therefore, for an express legal easement to be formed rather than simply equitable it must have been created by deed. A legal easement must be registered against both the dominant and servient tenements, if their titles are registered, in order to take effect. The benefit of legal easements pass automatically on the transfer of the dominant tenement or part of the dominant tenement